A small portion of despair and enlightenment delivered to your inbox every Friday
18 December 2015 ~
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There is already much speculation about José Mourinho's successor. It would be nice to return ...

... by the national media, reports that Giancarlo Abete, head of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), was also handing in his notice caused more consternation. The men in grey suits never resign in Italy ...

... team determined to play modern, fast-paced football – something they always had the right personnel for, but somehow failed to realise.
The supporters' reaction has so far been a little restrained, at ...

... rsity of Maryland. He has said if he wasn't a footballer he would be "pursuing something in one of those agencies, maybe the CIA or something".
Media punditry is not as popular among famous ex-playe ...

... best football for years if they are to make it – although fans will expect at least one positive result along the way. Ivory Coast had the strongest first round groups for the last two World Cups, so thei ...

... of football fans marched through the streets of Liège protesting about the president of the city's major football club. The anger of fans, who forced their way into the stadium and interrupted a board meeting ...

... the 1970s getting on for 25 per cent of fans at matches were teenagers. These days in the top flight the average age of fans is between 40 and 45. When you are young and watching a football match you ar ...

... effect on football in central and eastern Europe, but the ethnic wars in the former Yugoslavia created even deeper fault lines. Modern-day Serbia, which was home to Europe's best team 22 years ago, no ...